Courtesy photo Sounds of Music Award recipients are honored at the Chamber Annual Dinner.

ESCANABA — It is with great pleasure and a harmonious spirit that we extended our warmest greetings to our guests as we gathered under a banner of music and commerce. On the night of October 12, we celebrated the musical journey that we all experienced this past year. As suggested by the platinum album music-themed awards, it truly was a celebration of the beautiful melody of collaboration and growth.

In the heart of the Upper Peninsula, we have tuned into the rhythm of business excellence, where entrepreneurs and visionaries come together to compose a brighter future for our community. During the celebration, our melodies were not confined to just notes and lyrics, but they resonated through the bonds we share, the opportunities we create, and the crescendo of success we collectively strive for.

Just like well-orchestrated music, our community thrives when various elements come together in perfect harmony. Coming together to support the annual dinner were our presenting sponsors the Island Resort and Casino, OSF St. Francis HealthCare, Upper Peninsula Michigan Works, along with production support from Skerbeck Entertainment Group, VanAire, and all our award sponsors.

We also expressed our appreciation to the ensemble of Commerce Center talent that truly inspire each other: Associate Director Sheila Krueger, Member Services Director Terri-Lynn Thompson, Operations Manager Matt Valiquette, Communications Officer Vicki LaFave, EDA Director Ed Legault, Visit Escanaba CEO Robert Micheau, Administrative Assistant Mark Cowman and Videographer Jason Hamre.

Our gratitude was extended to all our guests, the dedicated members of our Chamber who are part of a vibrant business community. It was easy to acknowledge that this summer’s sounds of music experiences and opportunities would not have been possible without their support and encouragement.

Our appreciation was shown for the year-long commitment of the Delta Force Class of 2023 — they, and the Delta Forcers before them, promise a brighter future for our community.

The symphony of success will continue with the dedication and commitment of the following 2024 Chamber Board of Directors who were installed as part of the business meeting held during the event:

Christine Bauer – Walmart, Caren Crawford – Crawford Funeral Homes, David Fix – Northern Insurance Agency, Sue Helgemo – Escanaba Country Club, Scott Herioux – Hannahville Indian Community/Island Resort and Casino, Jesse Huff, Chair – Radio Results Network, Kelly Jefferson – OSF St. Francis Hospital & Medical Group, Cory Kuchenberg – Edward Jones, Jennifer LaChance – Premier Real Estate, Ed Legault – Delta County Economic Development Alliance, Brenda Lippens – Embers Credit Union, Allie Prim – Upper Peninsula State Bank, Pam Versailles – Billerud.

Hopefully, the night was filled with pleasant memories, for all our guests, that will resonate long after the curtain dropped to close out this fiscal year at the Chamber’s Annual Dinner.

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Vickie Micheau is executive director of the Delta County Chamber of Commerce